Hydraulic-power apparatus.



A. G. FERGUSON. HYDRAULIC POWER APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 001-29, 1908.

74 1909. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[NV NTOR 4 c;

Patented Aug. 1

A. U. FERGUSON. v HYDRAULIC POWER APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED OGT.28. 1909.

931,402. Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

-3 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

II In ll-l QLULW WIT/V155 A. O. FERGUSON.

HYDRAULIC POWER APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.28, 1908.

931,402. Patented Aug. 17. 1909.

SSHEETS-SHEET 3.

I I ll [NVENT'OR A/I'orimy ome er as PATENT enrich.-

ARTHUR O. FERGUSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

H Yl)RAULIGPOWER APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug 17, 1909.

Application filed October 28, 19%. Serial No. 459,917.

Tocll whom it may concern:

c it known that I, ARTHUR O. FERGUsoN,

a-citizen of the United States, residing at and ' a paratus of this character comprislng sim- 'anda purposes.

The invention also has 1n view the prop e, practical, and reliable means for developing and maintaining power for any purpose at a minimum expense.

To this end'the invention contemplates a continuously operating hydraulic power apparatus possessing special utility as acentral source 0 power for electric lightin or other plants, but at the same time capab e of gen- 'eral a plication for supplying power for any vision ofa power apparatus which is entirely automatic in its operation for considerable periodsof time without requiring any special care or attention, and which is capable of utilizing the same pressure sup ly fluid over and over again, thus insuring t re maintenance of the apparatus under the most economical conditions. I

With these and many other objects in view, which will readily appearto those familiar with the art, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arran ement of parts hereinafter more fully descri ed, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention,

' involved in carrying out the objects above indicated, are necessarily susceptible to a f Wide range of-structural modification without departin from the scope thereof, but a preferred an practical embodiment ofv the invention is shown in the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a power aparatus. embodying the present invent-loin ig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof. F i 3 is a. vertical cross sectional viewon the 'ne 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the operating connection with the piston rod of the individual actuating pistons. Fig. 5 is'an enlarged de- .gtail" sect1onal view of one of the Weighted mctuatiug pistons. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. [Fig 18 a detail in perspective showing the operative relation of the clutch lever to the stop wheel.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention, there are preferably employed a plurality of pressure chambers designated respectively by the reference numbers 1, 2, and 3, and while it will be understood that a single one, or any desired number, of these chambers may be utilized in carrying forwardthe invention, three of suchchambers are shown in the drawings by way of illustrating the prefer able construction and operation of the various instrumentalities constituting the invention.

Referring particularly to the embodiment of the invention as suggested in the drawings, it will be observed that the several pressure chambers 1, 2, and 3, are in the form of cylinders mounted in a suitable machine stand or frame 4, said cylinders having closed bottoms 5 and open at the top, as at 6. Each pressure chamber accommodates for a vertical reci rocating movement therein, a'n actuating e ement which may be properly termed a weighted actuating piston, the pistons for the several chambers being res ectively designated by the reference num ers 7, 8, and 9, and providing means for forcing the pressure supply fluid out of the chambers and into a circulation pipe 10. This circulation pipe has separate chamber outlet connections 11, 12, and 13 respectively with the 15, and 16, one of which has suitably fitted ,to the-stem thereof a controlling trigger 17 in the form of a cross arm, and having the function hereinafter more articularly referred to. The said circulat1on pipe 10 has a connection with the inlet of atransmission unit 18 preferably in the form of a water wheel motor, the drive shaft of which is equipped with a drive pulley 19 receiving a belt 20 to transmit the power to any desired machinery or apparatus to be driven, such for instance as an electrical generating plant 21, as suggested in the drawings. The outlet for said transmission unit is in communication with a fluid return pipe22 arranged over the pressure chambers and. provided with chamber supply ports 23, '24, and 25 of the cylinders 1, 2, and 3, and covered and uncovered by the external hinged cut-off valves 26, 27' and 28 having controlling rod connections 29, 30, and 31, respectively with a movable part 17 of the cut-01f valve equipment 14, 15, and 16 for the outlets of the sev eral chambers, thus insuring synchronous action of the cut-off valves for the supply .and outlet ports of each pressure chamber.

'The weighted actuating pistons of the several chambers are of duplicate construction and differ only in the particular of the pistons being successively of greaterweight. That is, the second piston 8 is twice the weight of the first piston 7, and the third piston 9. is three times the'weight of the hrst piston 7 as for example, if the first piston 7- weighs 25 pounds, a working proportion that may be observed would be to have the piston 20 cover venting ports 39. piercing the piston disk 32.

The piston rod 35 of each actuating iston has fitted. thereto a connection bra'c' et 40 afiording a connecting means for the upper end of" a presser rod 41, and one end of a connecting cable 42, which cable passes over a pulley or sheave 43, and the other end of which'is connected with the bracket 40 of the iston rod of the next succeeding piston. hisarrangement is preserved throughout the entire series except for the last piston 9, where the connecting cable 42 therefor iscon- 'nccted with a lifting pulley '44 forming a part of an auxiliary automatic actuating mechanism which includes in additionto the said pulley a winding drum 45, an auxiliary actuating weight 46, and rewinding mechan-. ism 47; .The pulley 44 and the drum 45 are equipped with complemental toothed clutch members 48 and 49 respectively, and are mounted on the same shaft 50 the pulley 44 being loosethereon, and the di um 45 havin a'feathe'red connection with the shaft, and having winding and unwinding thereon the weight cablel for the auxiliary actuating weight 46. The drum 45 is als provided wit a grooved collar member 52 ,oosely engaged by the yoke 53 of a clutchleyer 54 having a pivotal support 55'at itslome; end and carrying at an intermediate' point a stop member 56- adapted toeng'age' a stop shou deior equivalent element 57 on a tooth ed ing 59 which constitutes the rewinding mechciated with the said triggers spring supported operating heads 62 arrangedin a plane above and between the controlling elements 17, and

whose stems 63 lie in the vertical plane of,

and adapted to be engaged by, said rod-elements 41, while the'return springs 64 ar ranged on said stem 63 serve to return the ahead 62 to normal position when relieved from the pressure of the rods, 41-.

A starting connection 65 is run from the connection element 40, or other suitable movable part of the piston equipment for the last pressure chamber through a valve operating lever 66 supported in operative relae tion to the trigger 17 for the cut-off valve 14 of the first pressure chamber. Any equivalent connection or line of connection for the same purpose may obviously be employed I without departing from the invention.

In the operation of the apparatus, it will be understoodthat with the su ply and outlet valves 26 and 11 respective y for the first pressure chamber 1, open, the weighted actuating piston 7 is free, under its own weight, to descend and force the water or other fluid under pressure through the outlet connection 11 and the .pipe 10 into the casing of the transmission unit or motor 18 with the result of driving such motor for power purposes, the fluid leaving the outlet of the unit 18 and returning to the pressure chamber 1 through the supply port 23. When the said actuating piston 7 completes its downward stroke, the presser rod 41 carried with such piston engages the stemof the first operating head 62 of the series with the result of depressing said head to the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This movement of the said'head 62 against the triggers 17 for the valves 14 and 15, causes a simultaneous closing of the valve 14 and an openin of the valve 15, but in this connection it wi I be observed that the valve 15 opens sufficiently in advance of the complete closing of the valve 14 so that the uniformity in the pressure of the fluid is maintained, and the flow of fluid under pressure from one chamber is started before such flow is cut ofl from the next preceding chamber,

With the closing of the .cut-oii valve 14 for the first chamber, the supply. cutFofl' valve 26 is simultaneously closed through 'the rod connection 29, and-atthe same time the next succeeding rod connection opens stop wheel-58 in gear with the train of genres: :the supply valve 27 for the chamber 2 With the partsthus rearranged and the chamber 1 cut out ofservice, the actuating piston 8 commences to descend, and on account of its relative weight will lift the next preceding piston 7 through its idle up stroke. On this up stroke, the piston rod 35 of said piston 7 opens the relief valves 38 so as to,

uncover the venting port 39 and permit the free return of the piston to its starting point.

I Thesame operation takes place between each pressure cylinder and lts piston equlpment and the next succeed-mg ressure chamher and its piston equipment, ut iii connection with the last pressure chamber of the series and its piston equipment, it will benotedthat when the iston of said last chamber reaches the limit of its downward stroke, the

' presser rod 41 for said piston has operated c utch 48-49 out of engagement.

relation tothe lifting pulley 4.4, thus bringing the auxiliary actuating weight 46 into service and thereby lifting the piston 9 through its upstroke. By the time the piston 9 reaches its upward limit. of movement, a stop, shoul-.

der' 57 will be brought into position permitting the lever 54 being drawn back by its s ring with i the result of throwing the After repeated o erations of this character, limited only by t e length of the weight cable 51, the latter may be rewo'und upon its drum through the rewinding mechanism. W hen the last piston 9 reaches the limit of its down stroke, the starting connection will have o )ened the valve 14 and at the same time t e valve 26 for the first pressure chamber,

' and the operation repeats itself.

stroke; and means for automatically lifting the piston.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, pressure chamber, a fluid circulation system including a transmission unit, a weighted {actuating piston, means, controlled by said piston for closingthe inlet and outlet forsaid chamber onthe down stroke of the piston,

means for automatically lifting the piston,

and means for automaticall Y opening the in lot and outletfor said chamber when the pispressure chamber,a fluid circulation system ton has been lifted. I

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a

including a transmission unit, a weighted actuating piston provided with venting-ports and relief valves therefor, means for automatically controlling the fluid supply and .outlet for the chamber, means for automatically lifting the piston, and means for autosmatically opening and closing said relief valves for the piston,

' 4. In an apparatus of the class described, a fluid pressure chamber, a fluid circulation system including a transmission unit, a weighted actuating piston movable in the chamber, means for automatically controlling the fluid supply and outlet for the chamber, and an auxiliary actuating mechanism o eratively related to the piston for lifting t esame and including a lifting element, a winding drum adapted to have a clutching engagement with said lifting element, a Weight cable winding and unwinding on the drum and carrying a weight, and an auto-- matic control and stop for said auxiliary,

actuating mechansim. v

a 5. In an apparatus of the class described-a plurality of pressure chambers, a fluid circuation system including a transmission unit and having valved sup ly and outlet connections for all of said c ambers, a weighted actuating piston for each chamber, the several pistons successively increasing in weight, means, controlled by each piston for automatically closing the supply and outlet valves for itschamber and simultaneously opening the corresponding valves for the next succeeding chamber in order of opera tion, and means forautomatically llfting said pistonsjn, "order of operatlon.

G. ln an apparatus of the class described, a

plurality of pressure chambers, a fluid circuation system including a transmlssion unlt and having valved supply and outlet connec-- tions for all of said chambers, a weighted actuating piston for each chamber, the sev eral pistons successively increasing in weight, -means, contrplled by each piston, for closing the supply and outlet valves for its chamber, and for simultaneously opening the corresponding valves for the next chamber in. order of operation, andconnecting means between the several pistons whereby the piston 'inoperation on its down stroke will automatically lift the next preceding lighter piston. y

' 7. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of pressure chambers, a fiuid'circuation' system including a transmission unit and having valvedsup lyiand-outlet connections for all of saidtc hambers, a weighted actuating piston for each chamber, the severalpistons successively increasing in weight, means, controlled by each piston, for closing the supply and outlet valvesior its chamber, and for, simultaneously opening the corres ending valves forthe next chamber in orer of operation, and an auxiliary actuating mechanism comprising means for mechanic ally lifting the last piston in the series.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a

' plurality of pressure chambers, a fluid circuation system including a transmission unit and having valved sup ly andoutlet connections for all of said ambers, a weighted actuating piston for each chamber, the several pistons successively in creasing in Weight,

ally lifting the lastpiston in the series, and

means controlled from themovement of said last iston in the series for automatically opening the supply" and'outlet valves for the first chamber in the series,

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a:

plurality of pressure chambers, a fluid'circulation system including a transmission unit and having a valved supply and outlet con:

nections for all of said'chambers, Weighted actuating pistons, means for automatically outlet for all of the chambers, and an auxiliary actuating mechanism comprising a lifting pulley having a lift connection with the last piston in the series, a winding drum having a clutch connection With said pulley, a weight cable winding and unwinding on said drum and'carrying an auxiliary actuating weight, a-clutch lever associated with said Winding drum,

geared with the Winding drum and including a stop. member, a stop member cooperating with the clutch lever, and means for auto,- matically throwing said lever in both directions.

signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ARTHUR o. FERGUSON.

Witnesses R. O. BRADDOOK,

EMORY L. GROFF.

a rewindingv mechanism.

- controlling in sequence the fluid supply and In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my 

